The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-25
THE OWL AND THE SNAKE.
The Black Snake a Constrictor-Re-
marka BILE Contest Between Bird ana
Ophidian.

The Black Snake a Constrictor-Re-
marka BILE Contest Between Bird ana
Ophidian.
from the P1latka (Flct.l NesCs.
Many careless observers are not aware
that the common black snake of the South
is a veritable constructor, with the peculiar
habits and all the characteristics which at
tach to his monstrous kindred of the African
and Asian wildernesses In Florida we have
of this class the king snake, which kills and
swallows the dreaded RATHER, the gopher
snake, which is often II feet long, and the
black snake or racer. All are true con
strictors, swift, strong and bold, and all
practice the manner of killing their prey
peculiar to that family.
But an instance lately observed was out
side our common experience. Hon. A. il.
| Barker, of Lochloosa, in this county, few
days ago saw large horned owl strike as if
| for prey in a marsh near the road along
which he was riding. As the bird did not
rise Immediately Mr.. Barker concluded it
had caught something too heavy for it to
raise, and walked over to see. On reaching
the spot the owl was seen struggling with ex-
| tended wings on the ground nearly dead
| Mr.. Barker killed him with a blow of his
whip-stock, and then saw that a black
| snake was twisted around his neck and had
already choked the bird nearly to death.
The owl had caught the snake near the
head and pierced it with his great hooked
talons Evidently the snake had then thrown
the rest of its body around the birds neck in
deadly embrace, and but for Mr.. BarSer's
Intervention would have quickly killed it.
SO fierce was the snake that it paid no heed
to the death of its enemy and Mr.. Barker
killed both and then carried the two, still
locked together, to his home, where they
were seen by many.
Two summers ago we observed one of
these small constructors in an unusual situa-
ton. One-half of his body lay extended on
the roof Of a packing house, while the other
half dropped through hole and on the in
side its bright eyes watched the antics of
several rats which leased it as monkeys are
said to do its bigger brethren. The snake
swayed slowly back and forth and twisted
its body in graceful curves while the rats
scurried around it on the beams and
gradually drew nearer. Suddenly there
was quick swing, the long body
dropped downward till only the tail lay on
the roof--there was a speak of agony and the
snake pulled a rat from the rafter, and its
body was swinging back and fortl while the
rat bit and scratched vigorously but vainly.
Gradually fold after fold was wrapped
round the rodent-then there was alter
nately swelling and contraction of the
black belt and the rat gaSped and died. For
some minutes the snake lay still as if to be
certain that life was extinct in its prey, and
then began to crawl backwards
through the hole till part of its body again
rested on the roof Then the head and
throat unwrapped itself from the body of
the rat, a critical examination was made
and by twist after twist the prey was rolled
back till there was room for action. Then
it caught the head of the rat in its mouth
and swallowed it far enough to take a firm
grasp, after which the rat was released from
the coils and the snake crept backward,
holding its prey in its jaws and finished the
meal at its leisure on the roof.
All constructors are without venom and
make themselves valuable TO the farmer by
waging an unceasing war on the small ami
mails and insects which destroy his crops.